Locomotive crosshead guide



Feb. Z, 1943.A J. G. BLUN'r- 2,310,159 V LoCoMoTIvE cRossHEAD GUIDE File-d sept. 9, 194i Patented Feb. 2, 1943 Unir LOCOMTIVE CROSSHEAD GUIDE James G. LBlunt, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to American Locomotive Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 9, 1941,A Serial No. 410,134

4 Claims.

This `invention relates to locomotive crosshead guides and more particularly to connections therefor.

It is a common practice to secure crosshead guides to locomotives by reamed and tted bolts at one end and a sliding connection, providing for longitudinal expansion and contraction, at the other end, the bolts passing through bolt holes formed in the crosshead guide and its attachments. These bolts holes and the bolts, during the forming thereof, often develop small marginal cracks or fractures which, due to service conditions such for instance as forces transmitted to the guide by the crosshead, sometimes progress in size to an extent to fracture the guide, its attachments, or the bolts.

Itis an object of the present invention vto provide an-improved lcrosshead guide and connection therefor eliminating all fracture-producing bolt fastenings and securing the crosshead guide to the locomotive by a completely clamped construction.

It is a further object to provide, in the aforementioned completely clamped construction, suicient adjustability laterallyrto correct any lateral expansion misalignment resulting from theheat of the steam in the cylinders.

Referring to the drawing forming :apart of.

this application, Figure 1 isa fragmentaldiagrammaticside Yelevation of an articulated locomotive embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the crosshead guide and associated parts; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. 2, parts lbeing broken away; Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV--IV of Fig. 2,' a part being broken away; Fig. 5- isan end view, taken from the left of Fig. 2, a partbeing broken away; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing another embodiment of the invention; Fig. '7 is a plan view'of the structure of Fig. 6, parts being broken away; Fig. 8 is an end view, taken from the left of Fig. 6, parts being omitted and a part being broken away; Fig. 9 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2, showing another embodiment, parts being broken away; Fig. 10 is a plan view of the structure of 9,

parts being broken away; Fig. 11 is a section on the line XI--XI of Fig. 9; Fig. l2 is asection o'n the line XII-XII of Fig. 9, apart being broken away; Fig 13 isa fragmental plan vof ,the front end portion of a crosshead guide and clamp, showing a modicationemploying lateral shims; Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the structure of Fig. 13; and Fig. 15 is a fragmental plan of the-rear end portion of a crosshead guide and clamp, Showing a modification employing lateral Referring to the drawing, the locomotive, in,

derstanding the kpresent invention, Fig. ,1 shows a rear vcrosshead guide secured to the rear vcylinder, the rearerosshead guide 1 being secured at its forward'endto facylinder head lugj of the rear .cylinder ,9, and at its Arear encl to a rear bracket 'l0 extending .transversely of the locomotive and .beingmounted onrthe rear frame -.I I.

Brackets :3 'and :[0. extend ,acrossthe locomotive from vside .to side thereof. :Bracket AIl, beingfin line `with .the :front .boiler `support I2, extends laterally fromthe adjacent side `frame member. Crossheads I3 slide inthenguides and are connected to the power pistons (not shown) of :the cylinders by piston rodsJlA.

As opposite sides of vthe `locomotive are similar and as crosshead guides..2 and 4'I,aresubstantially similar, onlyadescription of thecross-head guide 2 at the right hand side of the'looomotive will be given. x f

.Crosshead guide 2 isbettershown ,in.Figs. r2-fto5. It is formed oftwolongitudinally .extending parts I5 secured together fby boltsIB. .The bolt holes for boltsl are notinjurious'to the guide. because no opposing forces are "applied-betweenbolts It and they guide dueto. powerpistonthrusts. :Crosshead guide 2 is of the -multiplezbearing type providing a plurality of -crosshead .supporting guideways SI1. Itsforward `end .118 .is rectangular in cross section and issecured to :bracket i3 by a channel-shaped clamp;t9. Clamp .I9 provides a sliding connection permitting expansion andcontraction of the. crosshead guide, due yto ffrictional heat, without distortion thereof, thefcrosshead guide at its otherend beingrigidly secured to the under-structureas'will presently appear.- vA shim 2U andlubricating -orifice-ZI for the connection are'provided at xthe front end of the crosshead guide.

The present invention Aprovides an improved connection for the rear end of the crosshead guide. The connection 22 of Figs. 1-5 includes the rear end portion 23 of the crosshead guide, which portion 23 is channel-shaped, the channel 24 extending transversely of the crosshead guide and having a bottom face 25 directed upwardly, and side faces 23. Portion 23 forms an intermediate portion of connection 22. Bracket 4 has a. bottom rectangular plate 21 formed integrally therewith. Plate 21 has a at bottom face 28 opposite face 25 and vertical end faces 29 opposite side faces 26. Plate 21 extends beyond each side of the crosshead guide providing flanges containing ori fices 3 The intermediate portion 23 is secured to the bracket 4 by a channel-shaped clamp 32, the bottom face 33 of the channel 34 of the clamp 32 engaging the bottom face 35 of the portion 23, and the side faces 33 of the channel 34 engaging side faces 31 of the portion 23. Plate 21 and clamp 32 form upper and lower outer portions respectively of connection 22. A shim 38 is disposed between faces 25 and 28.

VThe sides 39 of the clamp 32 serve as llers and instead of being made integral with the platelike portion 48 of the clamp may be made separate and the plate-like poition extended therebeneath, or they may even be made integral with the plate 21, in which case the shim 38 would only extend across the guide. In some cases the fillers may be dispensed with, but they are highly desirable as producing la, better clamping effect and preventing lateral movement of the guide relative to the bracket 4 at the connection 22.

Orices 4| are formed in the clamp 32 and shim 38 and bolts 42, extending through orices 3| and 4|, rigidly secure clamp 32 to bracket 4.

It will be noted that the rear end portion 23 (connection 22 intermediate portion) of the crosshead guide is imperforate, orices 3| and 4| being disposed laterally beyond the margins of the crosshead guide connection intermediate portion. Thus the bolts 42 are free from the crosshead guide, the elimination of the aforesaid fractures in the crosshead guide, its attachments and bolts being thereby assured. These bolts 42 do not receive the forces imparted from the crosshead to the Vcrosshead guide, as will presently appear. f

Channel 24 is of greater width than plate 21, providing a space 43 adjacent the forward end face 23. The forward side face 26 of the channel 24 extends obliquely downwardly and forwardly, and a key 44, having a forward face 45 complementary to the forward face 26, is driven into the space 43 so as to rigidly secure the crosshead guide to the bracket 4 against longitudinal movement relative thereto. The rear face of the key in effect forms one side face of thechannel 24 which engages the adjacent end face of the plate 21. Thus the crosshead guide 2 is rigidly secured to bracket 4 at its rear end and slidably secured to bracket 3 at its forward end. Longitudinal thrusts imparted to the crosshead guide by the crosshead during operation of the locomotive will therefore fall on plate 21 and not on bolts 42. Danger of shearing off the connection bolts is therefore eliminated as well as fractures of the portions of the connection 22.

Shims 20 and 38 provide a simple means of adjusting the crosshead guide vertically to insure proper alignment of the crosshead guide with the crosshead sliding therein, which adjustment may become necessary, for example, due to wear of the crosshead and guideways.

flange 41.

'Ihe crosshead guide 46 of Figs. 6-8 is similar to the guide 2 and similar parts will therefore be designated by like numerals with an accent added, only suiiicient description being given of this embodiment to indicate how it differs from the embodiment of Figs. 2-5. The bracket 4 is wider than the bracket 4 and is disposed over the guide 43 a short distance from the rear end thereof, and the key 44 is at the rear of the bracket 4'. The crosshead guide 46 has, adjacent the bracket 4', laterally extending tongues or flanges 41, these flanges 41 with the adjacent part of the guide 46, forming the intermediate portion of the connection securing the guide 46 to the bracket 4'.

A longitudinally extending clamp 48 is disposed at each side of the guide 46, one adjacent each Each clamp 43 has a ange 49 providing a face beneath and in overlapping supporting relation with the adjacent flange 41. Clamps 48 are secured to plate 21' of bracket 4' by bolts 42', the orifices 3| and 4|' for the bolts being formed entirely in the plate 21', and clamps 48 exterior of the lateral margins of the guide 46. Plate 21 forms the outer portion of the connection and clamps 48, taken together, form the outer lower portion of the connection. The clamps 48 may be made each in two parts in a similar manner as was mentioned in connection with clamp 32. The clamps 48 perform the function and obtain the advantages of clamp 32, and no further description thereof is deemed necessary..

The crosshead guide 58 of Figs. 9-12 is of the alligator type whereas the previously described crosshead guides are of the single bar type. I'he bracket 5| provides an upper portion or plate 52 for the top bar 53 of the guide, and a lower portion 54 for the bottom bar 55 of the guide, the portion 54 being supported by a depending-arm 56. The bottom bar 55 is rigidly connected to bracket 5| at its rear end and to cylinder head lug 51 at its forward end in the usual manner, and bar 53 is slidably secured to cylinder head lug 58 at its forward end in a well-known manner, as shown in Fig. l1. The bolts 59 securing bar 55 to bracket 5| and lug 51 pass through orifices 68 formed in the bar 55, asit has been found that progressive fractures do not start at these orifices of the lower bar.

. Bar 53 adjacent plate 52 is rectangular in cross section, -providing a top face 6| opposite the bottom face 62 of plate 52 and spaced therefrom by a shim 63. Grooves 64 are formed in the side faces 65 of bar 53 below plate 52. Clamps 66, similar to clamps 48, are secured to the plate 52 bybolts 61. The flanges or tongues 68 of the clamps 66 are disposed in the grooves 64 and coact therewith to` firmly secure bar 53 to bracket 5|.

The connection securing bar 53 to bracket 5| is formed of an intermediate portion (the bupper part of bar 53 adjacent grooves 64), an upper outer portion (plate 52), and a lower outer portion (formed by the two clamps 66).

The upper face of the bar 53 is channel-shaped and provided with a key 69 similar to the crosshead guide 46 of Figs. 6-8.

Itis obvious that the advantages present in the first two embodiments as above set forth are also present in this third embodiment.

It will be seen, by a comparison of Figs. 2, 6 and 9, that the connections are, in principle, similar, the connection used in the embodiment of Fig. 6. differing slightly 'from the connection used in the embodiment of Fig.' 2 to be applicable to a.l crosshead guidehaving longer guideways I1', and!I the` connection of Fig.v9 being substsmtially the same as 'the connectionlofFig.'Sibut applied to an alligator type of guide.

While'. the connections'shown are-each rigid longitudinally atv the rear portion of the crosshead guide and the slidable connection is at the forward end, it will'be-understood `that these may be reversed, although preferably, and according to usual practice, the slidable connection is at the forward end.

Furthermore, the invention is applicable. to other single bar or similar two-bar crosshead guides than those having multiple guideways.

Where the crosshead guide is slidably connected at its forward ends to the cylinder head, as for instance the crosshead guide 1,-it is desirable to provide means permitting the rear end of the crosshead guide to slightly turn in a horizontal plane to prevent binding thereof in its attachments when the cylinder expands or contracts laterally due to temperature changes thereof. Fig. l shows a means of providing for this angular movement. The clamp 10, which is provided with the bolt holes H for the bolts bolting it to the bracket (the bolts and bracket not being shown), is provided with a widened channel l2 for supporting the crosshead guide 13, thereby providing spaces each side of the guide. Lateral shims 'M having convexly shaped backs are disposed in these spaces. The shims are provided with orices at portions extending rearwardly beyond the clamp 10 and the rearmost bolt which secures the parts of the crosshead guide together passes through these orifices, securing the shims to the cross head guide.

The channel 16 formed in the upper face of the crosshead guide is provided with convexlyshaped side faces 'l1 for engaging the end faces of the bracket (not shown). This construction of convexly-shaped channel side faces permits the aforesaid slight turning of the rear end or the crosshead guide, thereby preventing binding.

Preferably the shims `M will be given respectively a suitable thickness to align the crosshead guide with the cylinder in the position it assumes from lateral expansion due to the h'eat of the steam in the cylinder. In such a case when the cylinder cools and contracts laterally, the crosshead guide will be free to slightly turn about its rear end as aforesaid to compensate for this, the front end of the crosshead guide attachment to the cylinder being given sufficient tolerance to permit this turning without binding at the front end.

Similar provision may be made for th'e top bar 53 of the crosshead guide 5i) except here the lateral shims will be used in the grooves 64, sufficient space being provided for this between the base of the grooves and the adjacent face of the flanges 63.

A somewhat similar provision may be made for aligning the crosshead guides 2 and 46 with their respective cylinders in their laterally expanded positions. Here th'e rear ends will be provided with lateral shims similar to the shims 'i4 except that they will be rectangular instead of having convexly-shaped backs. Such convex backs are not required as these crosshead guides are not secured to the cylinder.

The front ends of the crosshead guides 2 and de are also provided with lateral shims of suitable relative thicknesses to complete the alignment of the crosshead guides. Figs. 13 and 14 show a crosshead guide having a modified front end appropriete for either crosshead guide 2 or d5. Here asimple type oflateral shim is employedfor accomplishing the aforesaid front end alignment. Similar to Fig. 1'5 the .bracket and securing bolts are not shown. The clamp 'I8 for supporting the frontend fof' the crosshead guide lil is widened to provide ysp'a'ces'forathe 'lateral shims 80. These shims are disposed in these spaces and extend at each end therebeycnd, the extended portions having downwardly directed lips 8| which engage the adjacent sides of the clamp to prevent endwise displacement of the shims.

IThe rectangular shims and the shims of Figs. 13 and 14 may be used in any suitable type of crossh'ead guide that is not attached to the cylinder, and the shims of Fig. 15 may be used with any suitable type of crosshead guide that is attached to the cylinder. Also other types of shims may be employed for eifecting alignment of the crosshead guide with the cylinder or if desired, for effecting slight horizontal turning of the rear end of the guide.

While there has been hereinbefore described approved embodiments of this invention, it will be understood that many land various changes and modifications in form, arrangement of parts and details of construction may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention and that all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims are contemplated as a part of this invention.

The invention claimed and desired to be secured `by Letters Patent is:

l. A crosshead guide device vfor a steam loco-v motive under-structure having a frame and a power cylinder, said device comprising a crosshead guide member; and two connections for supporting said guide member from said understructure in longitudinal operative alignment with' said cylinder, said connections being longitudinallyv spaced from each other, one of said connections permitting longitudinal movement of the adjacent portion of said guide member relative to said under-structure responsive to expansion and contraction, and the other of said connections having vertically aligned parts, clamping means supporting the lower of said parts and provided with inner; longitudinal side faces op posed to cuter longitudinal side faces providedA on vsaid lower part, and bolts disposed at said side faces of said lower part exteriorly thereof and extending through said clamping means and the upper of said parts tightly securing said clamping means and said parts together, one of said parts being provided with a channel and the other of said parts fitting within said channel, said lower part being formed as an integral portion of said guide member, said upper part being adapted to be rigidly secured to said under-structure, and said channel extending transversely of said guide member holding said guide member fixed against longitudinal thrusts.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the supporting of the lower part by the clamping means is effected by an integral portion of said clamping means extending transversely entirely across the bottom of the said lower part in supporting relation therewith,

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein th'e lower part is provided at its oppositely disposed longitudinal sides with longitudinally extending laterally projecting lips having longitudinal side faces forming part of the longitudinal side faces of said lower part, and the supporting of said lower part by the clamping means is effected by' direction, and the channel and the part fitting therewithin having each a pair of transverse side faces, each transverse side face of one pair being opposed to a transverse face of the other pair, the faces of one of said pairs of transverse faces being convex in a transverse direction.

JAMES G. BLUNT. 

